Abstract
This chapter explores Tagore’s notion of “the surplus” in human beings. “The surplus,” for Tagore, is the emotional energy that exceeds what is necessary for self-preservation, and it is what motivates creative expression in art. Tagore analyses artistic creativity as the expression of an individual, but also as an internalization of what is external to this person. Through art, the artist attains a sense of interconnection with the world that facilitates transcendence of self-interest and attunement with the whole. Although creativity on this analysis is aimed at achieving connection with the larger world, Miri critically observes that Tagore’s analysis is focused entirely on the individual’s artistic activity. Like most modern aesthetic theorists, Tagore ignores the collective artistic activity of communities, such as that which is typical among Indian tribal peoples. Tagore’s theory is inadequate for accommodating this kind of shared creativity, but Miri suggests the possibility of extending the notion of the surplus to communities as well as individuals, a theoretical possibility that Tagore himself did not consider.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
A territory in the northeastern corner of India, bordering Myanmar, Tibet and Bhutan
- 2.
Many of these stories are reproduced on my website (www.sujatamiri.in), and in my books (Miri, 1988, Miri 2005, Miri 2006).
References
Ayyub, Abu Sayeed. 1980. Varieties of experience. Calcutta: Riddhi-India.
Miri, Sujata. 1988. Khasi world-view: A conceptual exploration. Chandigarh: CRRID.
Miri, Sujata. 2005. A book of paintings on themes from North-east India. Delhi: Mittal Publications.
Miri, Sujata. 2006. Stories and legends of Linagmai Nagas. Delhi: National Book Trust.
Sengupta, Kalyan. 2005. The philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore. Aldershot: Ashgate.
Tagore, Rabindranath. 1931. The religion of man. London: Allen and Unwin.
Tagore, Rabindranath. 1958. Sahityer Pathe. Calcutta: Visva-Bharati.
Tagore, Rabindranath. 1961. Rabindranath Tagore on art and aesthetics, ed. P. Neogy. Calcutta: Inter-national Culture Centre.
Tagore, Rabindranath. 1996. The english writings of Rabindranath Tagore, ed. Sisir Kr. Das. vol. 2. Delhi: Sahitya Akademi.
Tagore, Rabindranath. 1997. Gitabitan. Calcutta: Visva Bharati.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Miri, S. (2017). Artistic Creativity: Individual and the Community (Remarks on Tagore’s notion of the ‘Surplus’ in Man). In: Higgins, K., Maira, S., Sikka, S. (eds) Artistic Visions and the Promise of Beauty. Sophia Studies in Cross-cultural Philosophy of Traditions and Cultures, vol 16. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43893-1_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43893-1_13
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-43891-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-43893-1
eBook Packages: Religion and PhilosophyPhilosophy and Religion (R0)